Re "Obama's fig leaf on contraception fails to quell a religious firestorm" (Viewpoints, Feb. 15): Margaret Bengs seems to hate democracy and personal liberty. President Barack Obama's compromise on contraception is less demanding than current California law under which we have lived since 1999. All that is directed is that businesses engaged in some form of public access be required to honor equal accommodation. Why are different moral values unimportant?
We in the Protestant and other faith communities, as well as non-faith citizens, believe passionately in the morality of contraception. They embody our care for creation and family values of responsible parenthood. How dare anyone dismiss us so blithely?
Purely religious businesses are already exempt. Those engaging in broad-based public service, required to have equal-opportunity hiring, and especially those taking taxpayer money to do their work, must honor the diverse private conscience of their employees.
-- Elizabeth Sholes, director of public Policy, California Council of Churches, Sacramento
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